Type 2 diabetes can cause permanent damage to your body if you don’t pay attention to the warning signs as soon as they appear.
Unfortunately, many of the signs are subtle at first, making it easy to sleepwalk into disaster.
The high blood sugar levels that are a hallmark of diabetes can damage nerves, so your feet can be a clue to future problems.
And the first nerves to be affected tend to be the ones furthest from the spinal cord, extending into the toes and feet. This process is called diabetic neuropathy.
Continuous burning sensation in the feet is a clear sign of diabetic neuropathy
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What should I look for?
According to Harvard Health, diabetic neuropathy is “sneaky” and can “completely rob your feet of your ability to sense pain.”
This is deceptively dangerous, as minor injuries may go unnoticed. For example, you might step on something sharp while barefoot or get a blister from ill-fitting shoes.
Also, if cuts and blisters are not treated, they can become infected.
“Infections that cause tissue destruction (gangrene) and spread to the bones may not be treated with irrigation or antibiotics,” warns Harvard Health.
Other signs to look for include:
- Constant burning sensation in the feet
- My toes tingle
Can diabetic neuropathy be reversed?
No, diabetic neuropathy cannot be reversed, but the symptoms can be treated.
As Diabetes UK explains, once nerves are damaged they cannot repair themselves.
Keeping blood sugar levels in a healthy range and eating a healthy, balanced diet is important and can reduce your risk of diabetic neuropathy.
Low-carbohydrate diets have been proven to rapidly lower blood sugar levels into a healthy range.
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Various studies recommend consuming a low-carbohydrate diet to eliminate high blood sugar levels.
A study published last year in JAMA Network Open found that low-carbohydrate diets may quickly return elevated blood sugar levels to a healthier range.
Researchers found that eating non-starchy vegetables, fish, poultry, lean meats, eggs, olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds, Greek yogurt, low-carbohydrate milk, and small amounts of cheese provides protein and healthy fats. We recommend that you consume plenty of.